New Dispensary Opens in St. Albans, West Virginia

The West Virginia medical marijuana program isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, with patients registering for medical marijuana certifications faster than ever and new dispensaries arriving every month.

Joining Williamstown and Beckley, the latest installment of a Cannabist dispensary arrives in St. Albans, where Kanawha County gets its first cannabis dispensary.

Cannabist Opens Dispensary in St. Albans

Important Location for Columbia Care Cannabis

Before opening in St. Albans, the closest dispensary was nearly an hour away in Huntington.

Now, Kanawha County residents can shop cannabis strains and products at the new Cannabist dispensary located at 603 3rd Avenue St. Albans, WV 25177.

This location marks the company’s third dispensary to open in West Virginia, with plans to add more stores in the future. Cannabist is owned by Columbia Care, a multi-company conglomerate operating in many states across the U.S, with an impressive list of brands and partnerships.

Cannabis Flower Slowly Becoming More Available in West Virginia

Currently, there’s a pretty tight shortage of cannabis flower in West Virginia. The State approved 10 cultivators, but less than a handful are presently operational.

Because of the high demand for cannabis flower and limited operational cultivation facilities, dispensaries will likely struggle to keep consistent product on the shelf until more facilities come online.

This should be less of an issue for Cannabist dispensaries soon, because Columbia Care was among the applicants approved for a growers license in West Virginia, with plans to install a cultivation facility in Falling Waters, West Virginia.

This practice is quite common in the medical marijuana industry, where cultivators are often dispensary owners and vice versa.

Unfortunately, the limited number of cultivators that West Virginia has approved makes it tough to keep product available early on for the program. And with no home growing, patients will likely have to wait until the next cultivator comes online before the supply starts to meet the demand.

How Many Dispensaries Are in West Virginia Right Now?

8 Dispensaries Are Operational in West Virginia

There are 8 currently operating dispensaries in West Virginia, though not every dispensary has product available. Make sure to call ahead before you making a trip!

The 8 dispensaries open in West Virginia are in these cities:

· Beckley - Cannabist

· Huntington - TerraLeaf

· Morgantown – Trulieve & Zen Leaf

· Parkersburg - Trulieve

· St. Albans - Cannabist

· Weston - Trulieve

· Williamstown - Cannabist

More dispensaries are coming soon, and most patients will hopefully be able to find a dispensary near them by early to mid-next year. To see where dispensaries will be installed, the State keeps a list of companies approved for dispensary licenses and their corresponding cities.

The list won’t tell you which dispensaries are operational or when, so if you want to stay up to date on when and where dispensaries come online in West Virginia, check back on the West Virginia Marijuana Card blog where we regularly post updates about the program!

When Will Cannabis Flower Be More Available in West Virginia?

Right now, companies are working to install cultivation facilities and begin producing cannabis, though it can take quite a while for a large facility to be constructed and even longer for a successful harvest.

Cannabis flower is relatively new in West Virginia, and with 10 total cultivators allowed and only a few becoming operational, it might be a few months before the supply of cannabis flower becomes a steady stream.

Right now, cannabis flower can be found in dispensaries sparingly, but you might have to make a trip a bit out of your way if you don’t happen to live next to a dispensary with inventory.

Inventory changes about as soon as it arrives, so it’s tough to pin down when things will even out. We hope that as new cultivation facilities become operational, the flower shortage will end.

For now, it’s probably best to shop long-term and plan to get a few days or weeks’ worth of medicine per trip, and definitely call ahead before going to your dispensary. This will ensure that you don’t run out of cannabis before dispensaries do, and calling ahead will guarantee you that, at least at that very moment, cannabis flower is available.

Get Your Medical Marijuana Certification in West Virginia

West Virginia’s medical marijuana program is starting to handle more demand for cannabis flower. As more cultivators come online, patients will have more consistent access to cannabis flower. Consult with one of our physicians who can help walk you through the process of getting a medical marijuana certification in West Virginia today.

Take the steps to schedule your medical marijuana evaluation appointment today and get access to legal marijuana products available at dispensaries!

Being a West Virginia medical marijuana patient allows you the freedom to take your medication the right way for you. We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way! Feel free to give us a call at 877-303-8424 and we can answer your questions about getting a medical marijuana card in West Virginia.

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Doctors Who Care.

Relief You Can Trust.

West Virginia Marijuana Card’s mission is to help everyone achieve

wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana.

Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for

our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.

If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!

Check out West Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in West Virginia.